Global markets posted a varied set of performances for the five trading days through last week’s close. On the positive side, US stocks continued to rally, dispensing the best weekly return for the major asset classes, based on a set of ETFs. On the flip side, broadly defined commodities suffered the biggest weekly loss.
Vanguard Total Stock Market (NYSE:VTI) rose for a third straight week through December 8. The ETF edged up 0.3%, settling at just below a record close.
The week’s biggest loser for the major asset classes: commodities. The iPath Bloomberg Commodity (NYSE:DJP) slumped for a second week, shedding a hefty 3.3%. The decline marks DJP’s biggest weekly setback since March.
For the one-year trend, upside momentum continues to dominate, led by equities in developed markets ex-US. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets (NYSE:VEA) is up 23.3% for the year through last week’s close – the strongest one-year gain for the major asset classes.
Commodities are the only asset class in the red at the moment for the one-year change. In the wake of last week’s deep slump, DJP’s recent run of positive year-over-year performances has faded into negative terrain again, posting a 4.5% one-year decline.
